My Mom Warned Me Not to Get the Vaccine

It will alter my genes, and her chiropractor said he can’t fix it.

Did you do a double take when you read that subtitle? Did you hope it was a joke, or at the very least, an exaggeration?

I wish.

It was early Saturday evening, or perhaps late Saturday afternoon. Dinner was in the oven. I was sitting with knees up, on my bed, sipping some tea, and browsing aimlessly on my phone. I was interrupted by a text from my mom.

“Kristi, are you still considering getting the vaccine? I’ve learned some very disturbing things about it.”

Oh shit. Full stop, emergency siren sound, danger danger, Will Robinson. My mom, armed with (and believing in) vaccine disinformation, is a wrecking ball about to knock into public health. Okay, that is an exaggeration, but you get my drift. She’s articulate, she’s earnest, and she’s oh-so-good at convincing anyone of anything.

I should also clarify. My mom used the word “considering” in her text to me, but I never “considered” getting the vaccine. Just as I never “considered” not getting the vaccine. Instead, I’ve been checking every few weeks for an ETA on when it will be available in my age range so I can line right up for it. No consideration necessary, science is offering us something to help with the COVID-pocalypse, yes please, and thank you.

I was also angry in that moment. There was an element of what the absolute hell, Mom. Didn’t you learn that Coronavirus should be taken seriously (and we shouldn’t chase after fringe ideas about it) when you contracted it without realizing and gave it to my grandmother?

Apparently she hadn’t learned. She had a video to share with me. It was a “doctor” who does not need my promotion by mention of her name. I looked her up quickly before replying to my mom.

“Mom, this person is an osteopath not a medical doctor, and her credentials don’t check out. Why do you believe she is a reliable source for information?”

“My reliable source for information is actually Dr. Jones.”

“Isn’t Dr. Jones your chiropractor?”

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